Hi Reader!

Welcome to Field Notes by Smiti Nathan. This newsletter is for anyone who’s curious about the past and how it still shows up in our lives today, perhaps even in unexpected ways. It's also a way for us to stay in touch.

If you followed my blog Habits of a Travelling Archaeologist, I've shifted that newsletter here. These days, I’ve been focusing more on video and other soon-to-be-announced projects (hint: listen up towards the end of this month!).

My goal is to share things every other week or so that spark curiosity. It could be something I’ve made, something someone else created that’s worth your time, or something that opens up a surprising way of thinking about the past.

If you're ready, let’s jump into it!

Fresh from the Field 🗺️

A quick round-up of my latest videos, podcasts, and features
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​We’ve been working hard behind the scenes over the past few months in preparation for some exciting upcoming projects, so this section is a little light today. But I wanted to make sure you saw my most recent video in case you missed it:
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🎨 The Forgotten Colors of Famous Sculptures
​In this video, I explore how ancient sculptures (like the Terracotta Warriors) were once brightly painted and what that reveals about people in the past. Personally, I’m drawn to vibrant art, and I loved exploring how people in the past used color.

Small Finds 👝

Sharing things that sparked my curiosity recently
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​📘 The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August
In this sci-fi novel, archaeologists are travelling through space to recover traces of extinct civilizations before a world-ending entity arrives. I loved seeing how future archaeologists were imagined, especially their mindset, their tools, and how they interpreted the past. The audiobook was especially well done.
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🎧 Heritage Voices: Episode 91 – A Rapa Nui Perspective on Repatriation
​I came across this episode while researching the Moai section of my Forgotten Colors of Famous Sculptures video. I appreciated the perspectives represented and learned so much about the past and present of Rapa Nui.
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🎹 Pianote: Jon Batiste Hears Chappell Roan for the First Time
There are so many gems in this conversation, but the line that piqued my archaeological curiosity was when Jon Batiste said, “It also feels significant because it’s pentatonic, which is this ancient scale.” I loved seeing how the past came through in his interpretation of 'Hot To Go!'

Dig Back In ⛏️

Revisiting something curious from the archive
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​I recently volunteered at a career day for 3rd graders. They asked all sorts of great questions, including “What’s the coolest thing you ever found?”
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If you’re also curious to know the answer, check out this video from the archive: ​the coolest thing I ever found as an archaeologist​

Thank you so much for reading this far and for being part of this new beginning.
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I hope something in here sparked your curiosity. If it did, feel free to hit reply and let me know!
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Until next time,
Smiti